Books, TV series, and earlier movies have all provided the starting point for smash-hit film franchises. Some characters or properties, such as James Bond or Harry Potter or various figures in DC and Marvel comics, become franchises almost automatically, because they begin with multiple books (or comic books) and an array of vivid characters. (These are the best DC Comics movies of all time.)
Sometimes, though, individual films turn into franchises due to a compelling lead character or a plot line that resonates with the audience – as was the case with such diverse properties as Home Alone, Finding Nemo, and The Exorcist.
To compile a list of the most valuable movie franchises of all time in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo reviewed statistics on The Numbers, an online movie database owned by Nash Information Services. Franchises are ranked according to total domestic ticket sales, adjusted to inflation.
Disney animation franchises occupy nine places on our list, and the original movies they’re based on are some of the earliest. These include “Bambi” (1942), “Peter Pan” (1953), “Lady and the Tramp” (1955), and “101 Dalmatians” (1961). In case you’re wondering, though, the franchise on our list whose origin dates back the farthest is King Kong, which grew from the classic movie released in 1933.
Click here to see the most valuable movie franchises of all time
Two actors have proved to be bankable stars in more than one of the biggest franchises. Harrison Ford was the swashbuckling hero of the early Star Wars films and played the title role in the Indiana Jones movies. Tom Cruise has been the swaggering pilot in the Top Gun films and the action star of the Mission: Impossible franchise.
Director Steven Spielberg has played a major role in three of filmdom’s biggest franchises: not just Indiana Jones but also Jaws and Jurassic Park. (These are the best Steven Spielberg movies.)
48. Bourne
> Domestic ticket sales: $800,424,270 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,057,275,460)
> Years running: 14 (2002-2016)
> Total movies: 5
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47. Lethal Weapon
> Domestic ticket sales: $487,622,466 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,066,172,140)
> Years running: 11 (1987-1998)
> Total movies: 4
46. Home Alone
> Domestic ticket sales: $490,039,196 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,066,251,782)
> Years running: 31 (1990-2021)
> Total movies: 6
45. Beverly Hills Cop
> Domestic ticket sales: $431,012,375 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,077,683,847)
> Years running: 45 (1984-2029)
> Total movies: 4
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44. Finding Nemo
> Domestic ticket sales: $866,824,931 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,079,162,051)
> Years running: 13 (2003-2016)
> Total movies: 2
43. Terminator
> Domestic ticket sales: $669,177,934 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,095,338,938)
> Years running: 35 (1984-2019)
> Total movies: 6
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42. Men in Black
> Domestic ticket sales: $704,184,140 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,105,271,477)
> Years running: 22 (1997-2019)
> Total movies: 5
41. Thor
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,045,707,883 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,107,361,816)
> Years running: 11 (2011-2022)
> Total movies: 4
40. Godfather
> Domestic ticket sales: $260,446,056 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,151,226,128)
> Years running: 18 (1972-1990)
> Total movies: 3
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39. Ghostbusters
> Domestic ticket sales: $612,810,072 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,153,655,257)
> Years running: 37 (1984-2021)
> Total movies: 5
38. Top Gun
> Domestic ticket sales: $899,203,310 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,156,498,415)
> Years running: 36 (1986-2022)
> Total movies: 2
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37. Black Panther
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,153,888,626 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,158,499,333)
> Years running: 4 (2018-2022)
> Total movies: 2
36. Mary Poppins
> Domestic ticket sales: $274,230,583 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,181,334,227)
> Years running: 54 (1964-2018)
> Total movies: 2
35. King Kong
> Domestic ticket sales: $554,374,596 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,219,596,455)
> Years running: 88 (1933-2021)
> Total movies: 6
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34. Iron Man
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,040,029,729 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,231,316,670)
> Years running: 5 (2008-2013)
> Total movies: 3
33. Billy Jack
> Domestic ticket sales: $223,000,000 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,256,175,568)
> Years running: 7 (1967-1974)
> Total movies: 3
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32. Exorcist
> Domestic ticket sales: $322,436,443 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,282,608,679)
> Years running: 50 (1973-2023)
> Total movies: 6
31. Lady and the Tramp
> Domestic ticket sales: $93,600,000 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,284,069,525)
> Years running: 46 (1955-2001)
> Total movies: 2
30. Planet of the Apes
> Domestic ticket sales: $793,882,111 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,383,770,909)
> Years running: 49 (1968-2017)
> Total movies: 9
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29. The Lion King
> Domestic ticket sales: $965,423,326 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,453,199,211)
> Years running: 30 (1994-2024)
> Total movies: 5
28. Peter Pan
> Domestic ticket sales: $355,579,537 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,477,575,195)
> Years running: 70 (1953-2023)
> Total movies: 7
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27. Dark Knight Trilogy
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,188,469,949 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,491,059,855)
> Years running: 7 (2005-2012)
> Total movies: 3
26. Mission: Impossible
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,154,492,507 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,604,470,875)
> Years running: 28 (1996-2024)
> Total movies: 8
25. Avatar
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,469,240,424 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,613,898,499)
> Years running: 19 (2009-2028)
> Total movies: 5
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24. Twilight
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,365,922,346 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,621,472,037)
> Years running: 4 (2008-2012)
> Total movies: 6
23. Hunger Games
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,451,538,526 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,633,110,334)
> Years running: 11 (2012-2023)
> Total movies: 5
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22. Despicable Me
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,589,944,650 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,713,227,774)
> Years running: 12 (2010-2022)
> Total movies: 8
21. Jaws
> Domestic ticket sales: $433,152,926 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,738,481,558)
> Years running: 12 (1975-1987)
> Total movies: 4
20. Transformers
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,582,401,601 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,875,385,925)
> Years running: 38 (1986-2024)
> Total movies: 10
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19. 101 Dalmatians
> Domestic ticket sales: $356,130,853 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,877,135,901)
> Years running: 39 (1961-2000)
> Total movies: 3
18. Toy Story
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,436,427,934 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,916,136,105)
> Years running: 27 (1995-2022)
> Total movies: 7
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17. Pirates of the Caribbean
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,451,777,734 (Inflation-adjusted: $1,924,674,180)
> Years running: 14 (2003-2017)
> Total movies: 5
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16. Superman
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,152,698,852 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,064,265,047)
> Years running: 42 (1978-2020)
> Total movies: 11
15. Indiana Jones
> Domestic ticket sales: $919,839,275 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,077,072,977)
> Years running: 42 (1981-2023)
> Total movies: 5
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14. Rocky
> Domestic ticket sales: $948,249,848 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,124,145,605)
> Years running: 47 (1976-2023)
> Total movies: 10
13. Shrek
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,605,133,838 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,150,900,134)
> Years running: 21 (2001-2022)
> Total movies: 9
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12. Fast and the Furious
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,863,757,983 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,203,039,149)
> Years running: 22 (2001-2023)
> Total movies: 11
11. Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,853,480,602 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,536,933,292)
> Years running: 22 (2001-2023)
> Total movies: 8
10. Star Trek
> Domestic ticket sales: $1,400,952,879 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,611,836,631)
> Years running: 44 (1979-2023)
> Total movies: 14
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9. Bambi
> Domestic ticket sales: $102,797,000 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,704,336,016)
> Years running: 64 (1942-2006)
> Total movies: 2
8. Avengers
> Domestic ticket sales: $2,619,552,260 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,760,009,130)
> Years running: 14 (2012-2026)
> Total movies: 6
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7. X-Men
> Domestic ticket sales: $2,458,465,265 (Inflation-adjusted: $2,921,416,378)
> Years running: 24 (2000-2024)
> Total movies: 14
6. Jurassic Park
> Domestic ticket sales: $2,259,653,607 (Inflation-adjusted: $3,100,453,642)
> Years running: 29 (1993-2022)
> Total movies: 6
5. Harry Potter
> Domestic ticket sales: $2,882,789,135 (Inflation-adjusted: $3,758,504,836)
> Years running: 21 (2001-2022)
> Total movies: 13
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4. Spider-Man
> Domestic ticket sales: $3,311,719,386 (Inflation-adjusted: $3,913,822,660)
> Years running: 22 (2002-2024)
> Total movies: 12
3. Batman
> Domestic ticket sales: $3,154,368,870 (Inflation-adjusted: $4,387,535,426)
> Years running: 59 (1966-2025)
> Total movies: 28
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2. James Bond
> Domestic ticket sales: $2,297,557,630 (Inflation-adjusted: $6,131,863,429)
> Years running: 58 (1961-2021)
> Total movies: 27
1. Star Wars
> Domestic ticket sales: $5,089,209,170 (Inflation-adjusted: $8,092,351,466)
> Years running: 50 (1977-2027)
> Total movies: 15
Methodology
To compile a list of the 50 highest-grossing movie franchises ever released in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo looked at data film industry data site The Numbers. Franchises are ranked according to total Domestic ticket sales amount, adjusted to inflation.
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